How contextual and behavioral conditions explain residential green stormwater infrastructure adoption: A qualitative comparative analysis

Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) complements aging gray infrastructure by managing stormwater at its source and providing environmental and social co-benefits amid increasingly frequent precipitation and flooding events. Despite its multifaceted benefits and available incentive programs, adoption by private property owners remains limited, creating a significant implementation gap. To help bridge this gap, this study investigates the sociodemographic and social-psychological dimensions of GSI adoption behaviors to inform the design of more effective policies encouraging voluntary implementation. Applying Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to a community survey (n=412) conducted in Austin, Texas, we identify factors shaping GSI adoption at the household level, focusing on (1) rainwater collection and (2) landscape modification & water management infrastructures. The analysis shows that adoption outcomes are determined by specific combinations of structural and socio-cognitive conditions. While structural advantages, such as racial privileges, higher household income, and homeownership establish a baseline capacity, successful adoption depends on motivational triggers, particularly strong social capital and personal norm aligned with rainwater conservation. Conversely, awareness of stormwater runoff issues and pro-environmental attitudes toward urban creek health are insufficient on their own to drive adoption, highlighting that knowledge and attitude alone do not translate into action without concurrently addressing the technical, financial, and structural barriers. Our findings advance urban flood management research and provide empirical grounding for understanding pro-environmental behaviors, while offering actionable guidance for municipalities designing policies and incentive programs that address both motivational and structural barriers to GSI adoption.